North Idaho Fishing

[bassketcher]

OK ,I have looked around for a while and this an awesome site . But I was wondering if there are any fishing folks in North Idaho. I live above Sandpoint and would sure like some input on the water and fish in this area . THANKS FOR THE GREAT SITE .

[Mike Cork]

bassketcher , Idaho is one of the areas we have had trouble getting members from. We are excited to have you on the site with us, hopefully we will get some folks from your area. We have found that the fasted way to get more folks is threw search engine results. So please let us know the names of the lakes that are in your area. And when you post a fishing report that helps tremendously, so make sure you keep us posted on your outings

[bassketcher]

We have many lakes in my area . To the north there is Priest lake 18 miles long 300 feet deep . The fish of choice is the Mackinaw . Up to 50 or 60 lbs. Was told the bass were there but hard to find ,none so far. south of me are three sister lakes (Spirit Lake , Twin Lakes , and Hauser Lake) all have bass Crappie and trout . Spirit Lake has the best Kokanee fishing I have ever seen , I limit (15) every time I go there . The problem is bass , I know they are there I just can't find them .
  I have thrown spinner bait , top watter , plastics , crank bate , rattle traps , even worms  . 1 bass on the river ( Ponderay ) 5 on Hauser Lake . We call Priest lake the dead sea , no fish in 5 tries .  PLEASE I NEED HELP !!!!

[Lipripper]

Welcome bassketcher I'm not to fermular with Idaho but are you anywhere near Hailey or Port Falls Idaho.

[bassketcher]

About 35 miles from Post Falls ID. (Pend Oreille Lake)

[Lipripper]

I was just wondering because on the NAFC BB there was a member who don't come on very much that lives in Port Falls  and thought I could try and get ya'll together.

[bassmaster135]

Welcome bassketcher

[Pferox]

Welcome Bassketcher.

[Mike Cork]

bassketcher what type of lakes are you fishing, are they natural or inpoundments? Also what kind of cover do you have avalible? timber, grass, lilly pads anything like that. And one last thing what is your normal water clarity. We can point you in a good direction with just a little bit more info

[bassmaster135]

If you dont have any cover look for spill pipes (white pvc pipes that poke out of the ground on the bank into the lake) they are made for if water level gets to high i well drain into the ground a little further away...i catch a fish on just about every one of those i throw somthin at gives them little cover when there is none

[bassketcher]

Well twin has Lilly pads and very clear water , there is a large channel between the two lakes , about 4 to 8 feet deep all Lilly pads  . Spirit lake is mostly Alpine Clear except the west end , Lilly pads and murky water . Spirit is  impoundment , twin is natural . Hauser is natural  with clear water in summer , cloudy in spring . The river depends on the rate of flow and depth . Lately they have been raising and lowering level as much as 6 feet . When calm and at full level , clear and nice ,
hope this helps .

[Mike Cork]

With all the clear water the first thing I highly suggest is top water baits early and late. Get you a Pop R and a Tiny Torpedo, probably both in a silver or shad pattern. Work these around the edges of the vegetation, if that doesn't produce look to shallow points that drop off at the end of them to the channel or deeper water, the shallower the point and the steeper the drop off the better  After the sun gets up or before it goes down, I would recommend a weightless lizard or senko in and around any vegetation you can find.

Do you have any rock bluffs on the Spirit Lake (the impoundment) ? If so during the summer months they can be dynomite, use the top water early and late but them use a texas rigged plastic worm or craw worm when the sun is up. Cast to the bluff let the bait hit the bottom (ussually a ledge) and then hop it once and let it fall to the next ledge  Hope this helps, keep us posted on how it goes and let us know if you have any more questions so we can fine tune and get you on some bass

[Pferox]

One thing I might want to add, light line, or florocarbon, and long casts, your shadow or even the shadow of your lure can spook fish real bad in clear water.

[calincalif50]

try emailing to fish-in-fool a member of this forum.  He lives near pend O' and makes some of his own lures for that area

[bassketcher]

thanks calincalif50 I will e-mail fish-in-fool tonight
and thanks mike for the good info will head for the tackle shop tomorrow morning and fish after . Will post to let you know

[Mike Cork]

Looking forward to hearing how it goes

[bassketcher]

Well I tried the equipment you suggested with no luck on Spirit lake . Maybe it will work on Hauser .
The Kokanee were biting very well , we each got a limit ( 15 ) each.
Question : how do I find fish-in-fools e-mail

[onthepipe]

Hey bassketcher, I'm live in the Athol area and have really good luck on Spirit Lake fishing for bass. The easiest way to catch them this time of year is to troll with a silver rattlin rapala. You want the lure about 6' deep. Once you get one stop and start casting in that area. Don't expect any monsters using this method, but you won't get skunked. To get the big ones you're best luck will be in the spring time in the Cocolalla slew, using something rubber (worm, salamader etc.)and weedless off the bottom. How are you fishing for the kokanee??

[Scarecrow]

Hey bassketcher. Have you tried any of the smaller water? Round has some nice L.M. And from what I've been told so dose Jewel. I've had much better luck with the little lakes.

[topcat]

Also you can get in contact with your Game Warden for the lakes you are intrested in and ask him for info and contact the marinas on those lakes they always have info to share...and talk to some of the Guides on the lakes.....these are just Ideas on where to get info......

Topcat

[Scarecrow]

It's been getting cold up here. How do bass react to the colder weather? Its been down in the 20's in the last few weeks.

[Scarecrow]

I guess from what I saw yesterday, not well. I was out on Round lake and was not able to find even the little small mouth that hold under the dock. The trout hitting hard, but no bass. I could be me. I don't know.

[bassn1]

Hey, If Fins And Feathers is still in Coeur d Alene go in and talk to Jeff the owner. He should be able to help you out. Hauser lake used to provide excellent largemouth. Have been gone for years so I don't know how it is know. Cocoalla, Docks used to hold large bass. We use to use worms but I bet a senco rigged either way will produce fantastic results. Also all the little lakes off of the coeur d alene river cannot remember names there were 6-7 I beleive, produced well. When I left some had 15" limits and others just regular state regs. They can all be reached by way of the river.
Good Luck and get back to me I miss the clear waters, streams, rivers and most importantly mountains.
Dan J.
Grew up in Post Falls

[Scarecrow]

Fins And Feathers is still in CDA. I'm going to head down there at the end of the week. Most everything is still covered with ice but the weather is getting warmer. I'll miss the snow but it will be nice to have the lakes back. Most of last year was spent going after trout. This year I think I'll stick to bass for the most part. Thanks for the info. bassn1.

[mauray11]

so what is the deal with the kokanee.  what are they hitting on?  and what are the regs for them in northern idaho?